Visa and Passport Requirements and Information
Not eligible for USA visa:
- Anyone with a disease that could prove detrimental to others (communicable)
- Anyone with a criminal record or people who have been arrested in the past
- Drug users or traffickers
- Anyone who has, in the past, been denied entry or been banned from entering the USA
Visa Waivers apply to citizens of the following countries:
Andorra, Australia, Brunei, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Singapore and Switzerland.
The Visa Waiver applies to all EU Countries except nationals of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland and Slovak Republic. Citizens from these countries would require a VISA for their USA holiday.
Citizens who apply for the waiver program above must make note that their passports must be valid for at least 90 days before their entry to the USA and must be valid for 6 months post their departure date.
As of October 26 2004, all tourists using the VISA Waiver program require 'machine-readable' passports. Children who used to travel on their parents' passport, now require such a passport of their own.
Visas are required by all entrants to the USA except those who are part of the Visa Waiver Program and the following groups:
Citizens of Bermuda and Canada*
Citizens of Mexico*
*both require valid passports
Tourist, Business, Transit & Student. Visa applications cost in the region of $100 per application. It's wise to note that this fee doesn't guarantee application approval. The fee will not fall away should the application be denied.
Most visas have a specific period of validity, unless marked as valid indefinitely in which case the Visa is valid for 10 years. Length of stay, as decided upon by immigration officials, is usually 6 months, but there isn't any set time hereupon.
Application Requirements
- Application form (DS-156 and DS-157)
- Valid passport (if required as per above conditions)
- Passport photo
- Embassy copy of payment receipt
- Funds to cover entire stay in the USA
- Proof of intent to return
- Miscellaneous documents (reason for visit, insurances etc)
- Self addressed envelope
- Proof of intended business activities (if visit for business reasons)
| Passport Required | Visa Required | Return Ticket Required | |
|---|---|---|---|
| British | Yes | No/2/3 | Yes |
| Australian | Yes | No/2 | Yes |
| Canadian | Yes | No/1 | No |
| USA | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Other EU | Yes | No/2 | Yes |
| Japanese | Yes | No/2 | Yes |
User Comments & Reviews
2010-03-20 19:13:37
Soy residente americana y estoy en Rep Dominicana por problemas familiares desde hace 6 meses, debo salir del pais en los proximos dias, si voy a Pto Rico por tres dias me cuenta para los proximos 6 meses de estadia?
2010-03-17 21:03:37
soy ciudadano mexicano y quiero preguntar si solo con mi pasaporte mexicano puedo entrar a puerto rico. me gustaria visitar puerto rico por 3 dias como turista?
2010-03-09 04:12:56
I´m an ecuadorian who is almost an ophthalmologist meaning that I must do and defend my thesis which I´m working on. I plan to meet with a very close friend who is from the USA in Puerto Rico. I´ve been to the USA twice for medical reasons. I need to know how I can achieve the visa to meet him there? I don´t plan to stay there because of the reasons mentioned before. Do I need some kind of document from him? maybe hotel reservations?
2010-03-06 13:49:15
I have a valid H1-B visa but my I-94 stamp expired. Can I travel to puerto rico with Valid Passport & US Driving License.
2010-02-26 21:47:17
What documents you need to travel between PR and States? If you go to Puerto Rico with a valid drivers license, do you need a passport to get back to the US? My girlfriend is a UK citizen awaiting her greencard here so technically she cannot exit the country. Would going to Puerto Rico count as exiting the country?
2010-02-06 21:59:30
I am an alien resident is washington DC. Can I travel to Portorico showing only my dc driver licence?
2010-02-06 21:21:36
I am planning to take a trip to San Juan soon. Do I need a passport or what is needed?
2010-01-27 23:58:59
tengo,proceso de inmigracion por abuso domestico de mi esposa ami,pero aun no tengo nada concreto pero tengo licencia de conductor hace 5anos,podre ir a puerto rico o necesito otra clase de permiso,he viajado dentro del pais hasta hawaii no se como sera para la isla del encanto.thk
2009-12-10 02:12:48
I’m Egyptian but I have the US visit visa. Am I eligible to entre my dream country Puerto Rico??? Thanks a million.
2009-11-18 21:04:02
i am from mexico but rigth now i don t have us visa so can i go to puerto rico? i need the us visa
2009-11-16 04:45:27
my g4 visa is being extended, i want to take a trip to puerto rico from 24 nov and back to new york 1 st dec (work for un in new york), can i travel from new york to puerto rico without passport, since mine will be with the US consulate.thanks
2009-10-14 21:24:10
i have a valid H1-B visa but my visa stamp expired. Can I travel to puerto rico?
2009-10-06 09:38:08
Puerto Rico has been under U.S. sovereignty for over a century, and Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917. (quoted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._state) Therefore, travel document requirements are the same as for the United States. Please consult the Embassy or representative authority for the United States located in your country for specific travel requirements. Thank you.
2009-10-04 23:55:50
we are considering a trip to Puerto Rico & want to be sure a passbook is not necessary. is it correct that all is required are birth & marriage cetificates with picture id's. pleas list everything that is required for a trip from the usa to pertorico & back to the usa..................thank you
2009-10-03 23:51:37
I am given a 6 months stay here in US and be going back to the Philippines by Dec 11, 2009 from LAX California. Can i come anytime to San Juan Puerto Rico for a month and have to problems coming back to the US to depart back to the Philippines.
2009-09-28 11:41:45
Puerto Rico has been under U.S. sovereignty for over a century, and Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since 1917. (quoted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._state) Therefore, travel document requirements are the same as for the United States. Please consult the Embassy or representative authority for the United States located in your country for specific travel requirements. Thank you.
2009-09-25 17:58:34
I'm from Mexico but rigth now I don't have US Visa so Can I go to Puerto Rico?
2009-08-29 00:45:25
I am my wife are work and live in the US (california) We are on H-1B visa. Do we need a sepeate visa to visit Puerto Rico for a week?
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